AUTUMN IN PATAGONIA
Patagonia Photo Tour
NEXT GROUP DATE:
4 to 10 April 2025
The Magic of Autumn in Patagonia
Patagonia is the dream of every photographer and in autumn it is painted with the vivid red and yellow colors of the “Nothofagus Pumilio”, a South American native plant. A very special time to visit this place. With the guidance of the Photo Tour Leader, you will be able to discover and photograph the incredible places in Los Glaciares National Park during the best light hours of the day, obtaining breathtaking images.
It will be a unique opportunity to improve your technique, from shooting to post-production and live a great travel experience together with other enthusiasts like you. Our exclusive Autumn in Patagonia Photo Tour itinerary connects the iconic glacial lakes at the foot of Fitz Roy/ Chaltén and Cerro Torre. Join us on this adventure, where we’ll camp under the stars to photograph these rock giants during the Magic Hours of light.
Take a look at the itinerary and find out more details about our Patagonia Photo Tour.
ITINERARY
To book flights, please contact us before, we will help you coordinate schedules and transportation to get there. The nearest city is is Calafate / Chaltén.
Transportation to is Calafate / Chaltén is not included in the trip, and we will not be responsible for any delays or disruptions that are beyond our control. In any case, we will do what we can, given the circumstances, to help you.
We will meet you at the designed hotel in Chaltén around 2 PM.
After lodging, the Lead Photographer will give an introductory talk about the Autumn in Patagonia Photo Tour, together with the Amigos del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Zona Norte Association.
We will take advantage of this first day to make a short trek (2 km) to the “Paredón Viewpoint” and enjoy panoramic views of the town and the mountains at sunset.
Night in El Chaltén.
Transfer from Chaltén to a nearby viewpoint to photograph the sunrise over this beautiful corner of the Andes.
Breakfast. Transfer by private transfer to the Rio Electrico bridge, start of the trail to Poincenot Camp (12km).
After settling in, we will have the possibility to take sunset photographs from the Chorrillo river and/or the beginning of the Madre & Hija trail. As a backdrop for our images, the majestic Mount Fitz Roy.
Camping night in Poincenot (Fitz Roy Base Camp).
We will leave Poincenot before sunrise towards Laguna de Los Tres (2 km trek with 400 meters altitude difference) to appreciate and photograph the awakening of the day from a unique location.
Then we will return to El Chaltén (10 km trek), taking the opportunity to photograph from the trail and banks / waterfalls of the Chorrillo River.
Night in Chaltén.
Relaxing morning for free activities in El Chaltén.
Breakfast.
Around 11 AM: Photo viewing and lecture on post-production in Lightroom.
Private transfer to Cañadón del Río de las Vueltas to enjoy the sunset with a great view of Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre on the horizon.
Night in Chaltén.
Breakfast.
Around 11 am, we will leave for Laguna Torre (11km trek), along a beautiful road that crosses a forest of lenga’s trees.
We will practice sunset and night photography from the Fitz Roy River or Laguna Torre.
Camping night at Thorwood Camp (Laguna Torre Base Camp).
We will enjoy the sunrise from Laguna Torre and the Maestri viewpoint.
We will then return by the same trail (11 km trek) as the previous day, with more possibilities to photograph the Cerro Torre from other points of view.
Night in Chaltén.
After breakfast, we will review together the work done and we will say goodbye until the next adventure!
IMPORTANT
The itinerary published on this page and on our PDFs/brochures is indicative. The guide reserves the right to make changes without prior notice, which may depend on various factors/events such as weather, geography, protests, medical emergencies, etc.
Changes are aimed at ensuring the safety of travelers and the success of the trip, always trying to maintain the proposed activities.
By booking this Patagonia Photo Tour you contribute to environmental conservation in Patagonia through the association Amigos Parque Nacional Los Glaciares ZN.
The view of the Chaltén mountains depends on climatic and geographical conditions that are beyond our control.
What's included?
- Professional Photographer
- Certified Mountain Guide
- Small Group Size
- Analysis of the Work Done
- Accommodation for 6 Nights
- All Excursions and Photography Activities
- All Breakfasts
- 4 lunches + 2 dinners
- Tent, Insulation, Kitchenware
- Sleeping Bag
What's not!
- Transport from your origin point to Calafate / Chaltén
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Porter Service
- Travel & Medical Insurance (optional, but recommended)
- Personal Expenses
- Tips
Bookings
To book a workshop we ask for a 30% deposit of the total.
Workshop balance due 45 days prior to start date.
Cancellations & Refunds
If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:
Applies for cancellations made more than 90 days before the workshop start date.
Applies for cancellations made 60 – 90 days before the workshop start date.
Applies for cancellations made less than 60 days before the workshop start date.
In case you have already paid the total amount and need to cancel less than 60 days in advance of the start date, the following policies apply:
• If we find another person to take your place you will be refunded the total minus the deposit
• If we do not find a person to take your place there will be no refund
In case the workshop is cancelled by Argentina Photo Workshops due to reasons of force majeure:
• There will be a complete refund of the amount deposited.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Check out our guide on “How to Prepare for a Photography Workshop”, as well as information on equipment and FAQs below.
Near the date of the workshop, we will be in touch through a WhatsApp group, an ideal space to answer all kinds of questions before the trip and organize every detail. If necessary (upon request) we will also arrange a group video call via Google Meet for this purpose.
Although you can participate with any type of photographic device, we recommend a reflex or mirrorless camera, which allow much more freedom and creativity.
Considering the wide variety of photographic situations this workshop presents, it is advisable to have available focal lengths ranging from wide-angle (shorter distances) to telephoto (longer distances).
For Portraits, we recommend a lens ranging from 70mm to 200mm. The 85mm is usually regarded as one of the best lenses dedicated to portraiture.
For Landscape Photography, we suggest a wide focal lenght: ideally around 15 – 50 mm. You can also get a good landscape with a longer focal length by using a stable tripod.
For night photos (Astrophotography) the shorter the focal length, the better. This makes it possible to include more elements in the frame.
For terrestrial wildlife, a 300mm or longer telephoto lens is the best choice.
Consider also buying a tele converter to increase the focal length of the lens: 1.4x or 2x. Even if with loss of luminosity.
Finally, choosing the right set of lenses is not easy. If you encounter difficulties and need some suggestions do not hesitate to contact us.
The use of drones is prohibited in Argentina’s National Parks and thus also in Los Glaciares National Park.
The most important feature of a tripod is its stability. Since every journey includes some trekking, we must also take into account the weight.
We suggest a good carbon tripod that maintains a good balance between weight and stability, that can easily change from one height to another and that locks in little space.
Aluminum is also fine, as carbon is generally much more expensive. We know that choosing a tripod is not easy and we are available to help you choose the right model for you.
A Polarizing filter will be very useful to neutralize water reflections in the lagoons.
For those who love Landscape Photography, ND filters with 6 or 8 steps will be also very useful to play with the movement of water and clouds.
It is recommended to carry UV or Skylight filters, useful to protect the lenses from Ultraviolet rays (even more important in these altitudes), dust and splashes.
Finding the right photo backpack can be a difficult challenge. We recommend you to rely on a brand with quality and experience in the market.
The type of backpack clearly depends on your equipment. But what really matters is that you feel comfortable with it and possibly fitted with a rain cover.
You can’t miss in your backpack: a cleaning kit for the lenses, a remote control to shoot without touching the camera, hood for the lenses (to avoid flare) and a robust / comfortable camera strap.
It is also important to take spare batteries with you, as they tend to discharge faster with low mountain temperatures.
If you are interested in POST-PRODUCTION we suggest bringing your laptop with some editing software already installed. The Lead Photographer, at the end of the day, will answer your questions.
PATAGONIA PHOTO TOUR FAQ
Of course, accompanying non-photographers are welcome. The price is the same.
Usually in a Photo Tour the Leading Photographers accompany to locations only, while in a Workshop you are also expected to receive technical notions to improve your photography. Both options, often confusing, are good. It depends on what one is looking for. Our activities are developed in both modes, depending on the trip.
The landscape around El Calafate and El Chalten consists of forests, mountains, and rivers, where different species of animals live.
Among them: the Andean Condor (Vultur Gryphus), the Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe), the South Andean Deer (Hippocamelus Bisculus), the Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus Chilensis), the Cougar (Puma Concolor), the Aguila Mora (Black Chested Eagle), the Cachaña (Austral Parakeet), the Woodpecker (Magellanic Woodpecker), the Rhea (Rhea pennata), Caburé Grande (Austral Pygmy Owl), the Torrent Duck (Merganetta Armata), the Cauquén (Upland Goose), the Black Neck Swan (Cygnus Melanocoryphus), the Loica (Long-Tailed Meadowlark), the Patagonian Piche (Pichi), the Patagonian Skunk (Conepatus Humboldtii), the Carpintero Pitío (Chilean Flicker).etc..
April is among the best months to visit this area. According to historical averages, the temperatures are as follows:
El Calafate – Minimum Temperature 3 °C / 37 °F , Maximum Temperature 12 ° C / 54 °F, with an average monthly rainfall of 26 mm.
El Chalten – Minimum Temperature 4 °C / 39 °F , Maximum Temperature 13° C / 55 °F, with an average monthly rainfall of 91 mm.
Our planned hikes on the trails of Los Glaciares NP are of medium difficulty and require only a few hours of hiking and moderate physical condition.
Always leaving the beautiful town of El Chaltén we head into the forest towards the mountains on clear and well marked trails that regularly gain altitude allowing us to have incredible views of the Río de las Vueltas Valley.
With a moderate effort but with the wonderful reward of seeing these magnificent mountains we will arrive after a few hours of hiking to Laguna Torre and Laguna de Los Tres.
Yes!
During the days of hiking to Laguna de Los 3 and Laguna Cerro Torre, we will be accompanied by a Certified Mountain Guide.
Here is a list of recommended clothing for the Patagonia Workshop:
- Waterproof Hiking Boots
- Comfortable Trainers
- Thermal Clothes (T-shirt and underpants)
- Lightweight and breathable long-sleeved shirt and T-shirt for UV protection
- Sunglasses for UV Protection
- Sleeping Bag (it is possible to rent it in Chaltén)
- Headlamp
- Hat, gloves and neck cover
- Windproof and rainproof jacket and trousers
- Hiking stick (it is possible to rent it in Chaltén)
The round trip between your city of origin and El Calafate / Chalten is not included in the price.
However, we can coordinate it.
These activities require a lot of organization and are prepared well in advance. Weather is a factor we can’t predict, so the workshop/photo tour is not cancelled.
In any case, we will always be attentive to weather conditions to optimize the program and try to provide the best light conditions for photography.
Get more information about the Photo Tour, such as the cost of the next group workshop or a quote for a private adventure, just for you / your group.
GET MORE INFO
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